The first official week of spring is here, with lots of spring-themed family-friendly activities to do with your crew. See the first blooms of spring at the Daffodil Days Festival in Allentown, hop through the spring hedge maze and go all aboard the Easter EGGspress at DiDonato’s Family Fun Center in Hammonton, or celebrate local makers with interactive activities at Maker’s Day at the Arboretum at Liberty Hall in Union. And don’t miss for more to fill your end of March calendar—check out FREE Things To Do in March. (featured photo credit: DiDonato Family Fun Center)
(Note: Since COVID-19 rules and regulations are continually changing, it’s best to check ahead for in-person events)
Safe @ Home
March 24 at 4 PM
Safe@Home by Safe Sitter® is designed for students in grades 4-6 to prepare them to be safe when home alone. This program teaches students how to practice safe habits, how to prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies. All students will receive a book that will be mailed after registration. Registration is required.
Cost: Free
Virtual
Kids Cook Along: Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
March 24 at 4 PM
Join dietitian Jennifer Klein, MS, RD, for a kid-friendly cooking class, where she’ll teach young chefs how to prepare rainbow fruit kabobs with a maple cinnamon dipping sauce. Ingredient and equipment lists will be emailed to participants one week before the event so that kids can cook along. Registration is required.
Cost: Free
Virtual
Sponsoring Facility: Monmouth Medical Center Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
Star Wars Night
March 25, 6 PM – 10 PM
May the force be with you this night dedicated to all things Star Wars. Come meet and take pics with the official Star Wars characters of 501 St. Legion and the Saver Guild, compete in Star Wars trivia, participate in lightsaber training and watch “A New Hope.” There will be food and lots of family fun.
Cost: $5 with advance tickets, $8 at the door.
Tom’s River High School South Cafeteria, Hooper Ave Entrance 55 Hyers Street Toms River, NJ
Hoboken Public Libraries Maker Days
March 25 and 26 starting at 10 AM
Come out to celebrate making and maker culture at the Hoboken Public Library. From an Animal Crossing Escape Room to storytime to making fluffy slime, stop by the library for interactive and educational events all Friday and Saturday.
Cost: Free, but registration to each event is required.
500 Park Avenue, Hoboken, NJ
(201) 420-2346
Allentown Daffodil Days Festival
March 26 at 12 PM
Kick off spring by celebrating everything daffy at this first annual festival that celebrates over 2000 daffodil bulbs planted throughout town. Wear your daffodil finery at the parade, learn how to plant daffodils in your garden, peruse the library book sale, have your kids make daffodil crafts, and stop by Cream Ridge Winery for food trucks, vendors, and live music.
Cost: Free for events in town; Cream Ridge event is $15
Parade along Church Street and events in downtown Allentown, NJ
Holi Patio Party Open Air
March 26, 12 PM-4 PM
Get your white on to experience the bright and bold Holi—the Hindu celebration for spring otherwise known as the Festival of Colors. This family-friendly celebration boasts plenty of dancing, Indian food, and of course, unlimited organic vibrant powder colors to toss around. There will be a DJ, giveaways, and fun activities for the whole family.
Cost $30
932 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen, NJ
(732) 664-3415
Lambing at Howell Living History Farm
March 26 from 10 AM-4 PM
Kids will love to hear about the flock of period Romney-Suffolk sheep and may even get to see a lamb being born. You’ll also see how horses shed their winter coats, and farmers work out in the fields.
Cost: Free
70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ
(609) 737-3299
Community Day: We Be Bayan, A Celebration of Filipino American Culture
March 26, 12 PM – 5 PM
Bring the whole fam out to The Newark Museum of Art to celebrate the Filipino American community through stories, language, crafts, songs, and much more. Kids will love making their own scabbard and sword and practicing how to use them, listening to stories, and learning the traditional dances and songs. There will also be a food truck on site.
Cost: Free, registration required
49 Washington Street, Newark, NJ
(973) 596-6550
Union County St. Patricks Day Parade
March 26 at 12 PM
It’s the luck of the Irish that you can still celebrate St. Patrick’s day this weekend with a lively parade and tradition in Union County. Gather at Morris and Stuyvesant Avenues at noon for pre-parade festivities, including a kid’s zone. Step off begins at 1 PM — Erin Go Bragh!
Cost: Free
The parade begins on Morris Ave and along Commerce and Jeanette Avenues in Union, NJ
Allaire History Kid’s Club: Hunting For Bog Iron
March 26 at 1:30 PM
Take part in an interactive kids program with the theme “The Mineral That Matters: Hunting For Bog Iron.” There will be a visit to the blast furnace for the inaugural in-person session of the History Kids Club of 2022 to learn about the iron smelting process. After, you’ll head down the bluff to the bog iron trail, where you’ll get a chance to try raising some bog iron ore for yourself.
Cost: $10 in advance
4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ
(732) 919-3500
The Alliance’s Special Needs Resource Fair and Family Fun Day
March 26, 11 AM – 1 PM
Spend the day at this fair devoted to special-needs resources, including information on private special education schools, summer camps, therapies, financial planning, and more. Throughout the day, there will be carnival activities and games to entertain kids (hello balloon animals), meet and greets with characters, as well as door prizes and contests.
Cost: Free
Union County College, 1033 Springfield Road, Cranford, NJ
(973) 407-0596
Outdoor Adventures: Seed Starting
March 26, 10 AM – 1 PM
Get outside and celebrate spring at the Van Vleck House and Gardens with a garden-themed event the entire family can participate in. Kids and adults will learn how to plant seeds for their own gardens and participate in other fun spring-themed activities.
Cost: $15 per family for non-members
Van Vleck House and Gardens, 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair, NJ
(973) 744-4752
Easter Egg Cookie Scavenger Hunt
March 26, 1 PM – 3 PM
Join Jane’s Teahouse for a sweet scavenger hunt as littles search for the delicious egg-shaped cookies along Station Avenue. Check-in at Jane’s Teahouse for a map, a cup of lemonade, and clues to find a dozen cookies to enjoy. (Kids 12 and under must have an adult search with them)
Cost: $16.95 includes lemonades, 12 cookies, and the scavenger hunt. Pre-registration is required.
Jane’s Teahouse, 602 Station Avenue, Haddon Heights, NJ
(856) 508-0080
Garden State 63rd Annual Model Railroad Show
March 26 and 27 from 12 PM to 5 PM
All aboard! Head to this annual model train show, featuring working model trains and interactive layouts with model mixed freight and passenger trains. There will be fun for the whole family, including a kiddie section with Thomas the Tank and refreshments.
Cost: $8, kids under 10 are free
575 High Mountain Road, North Haledon, NJ
Maple Sugaring Open House
March 26 and 27, 10 AM to 3 PM
If you think you missed out on maple sugaring events this winter, you can catch this one before spring settles in. Watch how maple sugar is made, as well as purchase the fresh syrup while you’re there. You can also shop the barn sale happening on Sat, March 26.
Cost: Free
50 Neilson Road and 4-H Trail, Sussex, NJ
(973) 288-2760
Easter EGGspress at DiDonato’s Family Fun Center
March 26 and 27 12 PM – 5 PM
Hop to it—the first Easter events are happening at DiDonato’s Family Fun Center this weekend. Climb aboard the EGGspress train, meet with the Easter Bunny, hunt for eggs in their Spring Hedge Maze, go down a giant inflatable slide, visit the toy market, and enjoy special Easter treats.
Cost: $12.95 per person; advance tickets are highly encouraged
1151 South White Horse Pike Hammonton, NJ
(609)561-3040
Wine and Chocolate Weekend at Terhune Orchards
March 26 and 27, 12 PM – 5 PM
Love wine and chocolate? Head out to the farm for a special pairing of wine and local chocolates while listening to live music. Kids will love hanging by the firepits roasting s’mores, and sipping hot cocoa. After, stop by the store for fresh-baked goodies and produce.
Cost: Varies with wine pairing and kits.
330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ
(609) 924-2310
Maker’s Day At the Arboretum at Liberty Hall
March 27, 12 PM – 4 PM
New Jersey Makers Day celebrates maker culture across New Jersey, and this event (good for all ages) supports making, tinkering, crafting, manufacturing, and STEM-based learning. Kids and adults will enjoy lots of fun activities and have a chance to try their own making at learning stations throughout the Arboretum.
Cost: Free, donation suggested, and reservations required
1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ
(908) 527-0400
Frazier Fitness Charity Challenge
All funds must be raised by March 30, 2022
March is the time for Spring Training, and Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation is launching an exciting fitness and fundraising challenge to get your family moving together. Get fit with Jackie and Todd Frazier, Major League Baseball All-Star and 2020 Olympian, by joining the 21-Day Frazier Charity Fitness Challenge today. Raise the most funds for CSH, and you will get a LIVE Virtual Training Session with Jackie and Todd. Register now at https://getfit4csh.org to impact your health and the health of local kids living with special healthcare needs.
Cost: Donation-based
Virtual
